Lame duck Legislators plan Rp 1b for tour<\/p>\n
Oyos Saroso H.N., Bandarlampung<\/p>\n
Nearing the end of their tenures in two months, Lampung
\nlegislative councillors are planning to go on comparative study
\ntours to various regions in the country, deemed by many as a
\nvacation or a way to earn extra money before they retire.<\/p>\n
Every year, funds allocated for the tours reach up to Rp 1
\nbillion (US$ 105,263) for transportation, accommodation, meals,
\nspending money an official tour (SPJ) expenses.<\/p>\n
Although funds have been allotted from the 2004 provincial
\nbudget, not every councillor agreed that they were needed, as was
\ncited by a councillor from the Prosperous Justice Party and head
\nof Commission E, Abdul Hakim.<\/p>\n
He said that it was better for them to improve their
\nperformance near the end of their terms, rather than spending
\nmoney for the tours. He said that study tours had more
\ndisadvantages than advantages.<\/p>\n
\"Comparative studies will have no benefit for the people.
\nBesides that, people will be suspicious as the results will not
\nproduce much that will help the public,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In previous years, many councillors who were listed as
\ncomparative study participants took only the money but never
\nwent. The comparative studies were carried out in stages,
\nvisiting different provinces. Commission A and C had planned to
\ngo to Yogyakarta, Commission D to Riau, while Commission B and E
\nhad not decided on their destination yet.<\/p>\n
Head of the Lampung Parliament Watch (LPW) Wahyu Sasongko said
\nthe tours were only a waste of money as there would be no results
\nfrom the comparative studies that could be applied.<\/p>\n
As evidence, he said that the councillors failed to follow up
\non their study tours last year. The councillors visited various
\nprovinces -- Commission A went to Kalimantan, B to Central Java,
\nC to Medan and Riau, E to West Java and D to Central Java and
\nSulawesi. \"But upon returning home, there was no follow-up,\" said
\nWahyu.<\/p>\n
A source at the council who wished to remain anonymous said
\nthat the SPJ money is seldom used because working partners
\ntraveling with the councillors will pay for all the expenses.
\nAirplane tickets, accommodation, presents and spending money will
\nbe paid for by heads of agencies or municipalities.<\/p>\n
\"Isn't it just a cruise holiday? It's just a pretense,\" said
\nthe source.<\/p>\n
Speaker of the Lampung legislature Nurhasanah said that the
\nstudy tour would still go on as it had been scheduled earlier.
\n\"Besides that, it hasn't violated any rules. There will always be
\na comparative study every year,\" said Nurhasanah.<\/p>\n
He said that even though study tours were carried out
\napproaching the end of a term, they would still be beneficial as
\nthe results would be forwarded to councillors in the next term.<\/p>\n
Head of Commission A Syukri Baihaki said that a study tour
\ncould not be considered the same as a holiday or a cruise. \"It's
\nin the council's agenda. Commission A also has work to do in the
\nmatters of law and governance to complete,\" said Syukri.<\/p>\n
He said that the working visit to Yogyakarta was related to
\nthe implementation of Bylaw No. 8\/2001 on streamlining the
\norganization of provincial administrations. \"Yogyakarta has
\nimplemented the bylaw, so we wish to study the mechanisms and
\nsystem there,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Based on the bylaw, the number of agencies, offices and
\norganizations of a provincial administration should be limited so
\nas to be effective and efficient. \"There are too many agencies in
\nLampung now. The problem is, none of them are performing well,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Another problem, he said, was that the bylaw must be
\nimplemented by the end of this year at the latest, which meant,
\nCommission A along with the organizational bureau, the law bureau
\nand the provincial personnel administration agency had the
\nresponsibility to complete the task.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/lame-duck-legislators-plan-rp-1b-for-tour-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}